title: Relationship in Japan between maternal grandmothers' perinatal support and their self-esteem.
abstract: This study investigated the influence on their mental well-being of the perinatal support given by Japanese grandmothers. The Rosenberg self-esteem and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scales were used to assess grandmothers' mental well-being before and after their daughters' childbirth. Of 198 grandmothers, 176 (88.9%) supported their daughters and three patterns of perinatal support were observed: grandmothers' support at the grandparents' house before childbirth (n = 95) (Satogaeri bunben; Japanese traditional perinatal support), grandmothers' support at the grandparents' house after childbirth (n = 53); and grandmothers' support at the daughters' house (n = 28). Those who supported their daughters at the grandparents' house before childbirth - especially the middle-aged (less than 60 years old) - showed significantly lower scores of self-esteem. Scores of CES-D did not significantly change before and after childbirth in either subgroup of grandmothers. It was concluded that grandmothers play an important role in supporting their daughters, and Satogaeri bunben is a typical event in modern Japan. However, Satogaeri bunben is a burden for middle-aged grandmothers, and we need to support them.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Mie University, Mie; Department of Children's and Women's Health, Area of Nursing Science, Division of Health Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iseki
authors.forename: Kazutomo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005191:Family Characteristics / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D007564:Japan; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D036801:Parturition; D018743:Perinatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Japan; cross-cultural healthcare; depression; grandmother; perinatal support; self-esteem